Skip to main content
Kent State University Home

Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

  • About
    • About
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Rights and Reuse
  • Browse
    • Authors
    • Collections
    • Communities
    • Subjects
  • Login

Investing the Role of Per2 in the Onset of Depression

  1. Open Access Kent State
  2. Conferences & Events
  3. Undergraduate Research Symposium
  4. 2018 - Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity
  5. All
  6. Investing the Role of Per2 in the Onset of Depression
Author(s)
  • Kevin Dobbins
  • John D Johnson
Abstract

Depression affects roughly 350 million people worldwide. It is the number one psychological disorder in the western world, yet the biological cause of depression remains unknown. Antidotal evidence indicates disruption of normal circadian rhythms is associated with increased risk of depression, such as shift workers and those suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Preliminary data indicate that chronic stress results in decreased expression of Per2, a circadian clock gene, in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), which is a brain area known to regulate emotional responses. The aim of this research project is to investigate the role Per2 plays in regulating depressive like behaviors. The experimental design includes manipulating Per2 expression by injecting short inhibitory (si)RNA or control siRNA into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and examining the onset of depressive-like behaviors. I expect that the injection of siRNA Per2 in the BNST will reduce Per2 expression and lead to depression in rats. This will be evident by increased floating in a forced swim test and decreased sucrose preference.

Format
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2018-04-05
Contributor(s)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. John Johnson
Subject
  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Genomics
  • Medical Molecular Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neurology
Modified Abstract

Depression is the number one psychological disorder in the western world, yet the biological cause of depression remains unknown. Antidotal evidence indicates disruption of normal circadian rhythms is associated with increased risk of depression, such as shift workers and those suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Preliminary data indicate that chronic stress results in decreased expression of Per2, a circadian clock gene, in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), which is a brain area known to regulate emotional responses. The aim of this research project is to investigate the role Per2 plays in regulating depressive like behaviors. The experimental design includes manipulating Per2 expression by injecting short inhibitory (si)RNA or control siRNA into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and examine depressive behaviors.

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email
Open Access Kent State
University Libraries

Street Address

1125 Risman Dr.
Kent, OH 44242

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242-0001

Contact Us

  • oaks [at] kent [dot] edu

Quick Links

  • About
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Rights and Reuse

Information

  • Accessibility
  • Annual Security Reports
  • Emergency Information
  • For Our Alumni
  • For the Media
  • Health Services
  • Jobs & Employment
  • May 4th, 50th Commemoration
  • Privacy Statement
  • Website Feedback
Kent State University Home
© 2021 Kent State University All rights reserved.